Marcia Barnes • Clay County Progress Stephen Lyvers, Director of Maintenance for Clay County School received recognition for earning an HVAC contractors license in Heating Group III. The presentation was made at the Aug. 25 Clay County Schools Board of Education regular meeting.
By Marcia Barnes
Staff Writer
Mid-way through the regular school board meeting on Monday evening Superintendent Melissa Godfrey said that attendance on the first day of school was 1,328 students and the number included Pre-K through 12th grade. The Clay County School Board of Education meeting on Aug. 25 coincided with the first day of school.
Two board members were absent. Chairman, Dr. Jason Shook said that board member Danny Jones would be present via phone. Shook requested a Moment of Silence for Vice Chair Kelly Crawford who suffered a stroke three weeks ago.
Summer experiences for three high school students were highlighted for outstanding participation. Principal Stacey Overlin said that Cailey Bowers who attended Appalachian STEM Academy in Oakridge, Tenn., for two weeks had experiences in science, technology, engineering and math. Overlin said that Bowers was being recognized for doing something special this summer.
Dalton Hunt, Class of ‘26, had three different experiences as a North Carolina Government Page. Overlin said that the experiences actually took place in spring as Hunt worked as page to Senator Kevin Corbin, also to Representative Karl Gillespie and Governor Josh Stein.
Wyatt James, a senior, attended Tar Heels Boys State held in June at Catawba College in Salisbury. Overlin said that this is a really great program where students learn about leadership, public speaking, government and the political system all at the state level.
“Students come from all over North Carolina and Wyatt represented Hayesville High School,” Overlin said.
Summer maintenance on the Clay County Schools campus was reported by Stephen Lyvers, Director of Maintenance. Lyvers presented the detailed list to the board and public present. Some of the summer maintenance work included:
• Hayesville High School Gym painted.
• Junior parking lot resurfaced.
• Increased accessibility on the playground for students with mobility challenges.
• 75 percent of wallboard installed at Hayesville Primary School.
• Landscaping.
• Playground wood chips/gravel refreshed, added interior sidewalk in playground.
• Pressure washing.
• New lighting installed for new parking area.
• Gym floors refinished.
• Toilet seats refreshed.
• Removal of old light fixtures/installed LED lights.
• Mobile unit underpinnings repaired.
• Rubber matting installed in elementary school playground.
• Added steps to garden; added gate going to mobile; added classroom shelving.
• Replaced lights at the high school with LED lights.
• High School Gym floor refaced.
• Moved an office; trimmed back some trees; replaced water lines in the AC.
• Installed a mini-split in the nursing mobile.
• Replaced filters in ice machines.
Lyvers said that door safety locks have been ordered for all the campus and they have adjusted the doors due to settling. There are now LED lights in the concession stand and a few things remain to be completed over the Labor Day weekend.
Referring to the school maintenance crew, Lyvers said, “I’m very proud of these guys. These guys get it done.”
Reporting on the Federal Programs Annual Plan, Angel Owens, Chief Officer of Human Resources said that federal funding has been reduced for Title I, Title II and Title IV.
Title I funding has been reduced by $23,855; Title II funding has been reduced by $3,368; and Title IV, reduced by $1,219.
“Title III Federal Funds have never been taken,” Owens said.
The Clay County Board of Education approved Owens’ Federal Programs Annual Plan. The board elected Robert Caldwell as Acting Vice Chair and the Superintendent’s contract was approved by the board to June 30, 2029.
The next regular board meeting will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept.